The International Judo Federation (IJF) has decided to “reinstate full national representation” of Russian athletes at its competitions starting this weekend, it said on Thursday.

The IJF executive committee voted to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag, with their anthem and insignia in place, beginning with the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam from Nov. 28–30.

“This decision reaffirms the IJF’s role as a truly global federation and reinforces its commitment to fair, transparent and values-driven governance,” the federation said.

The Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended since 2023 by the International Olympic Committee, for breaking the Olympic charter by using an administrative land grab to incorporate regional sports bodies in occupied eastern Ukraine.

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